Petting my parakeet?

Question

I have a parakeet who's about 5 years old. She likes me and she goes on my finger. I've heard that parakeets LOVE to be lightly scratched on the head or under the beak, but when I try (as GENTLY as I can!) she jerks away! Even when I try to stroke her back she turns around and nips me or jerks away. I want her to let my scratch her because I see her rubbing her head against her perch a lot and I want her to trust me touching her head! How do I get her to trust me?

Answer 1

They don't all love being touched or scratched.  I have a budgie that's 7 years old and he still can't stand being touched.  I was lucky to finger tame him and that's about it.  He's just not social.  Accept the bird for who he/she is.  That's my advice.

Answer 2

birds DO like to be petted on the back and the back of the neck... distract it with food and then slowly, with the other hand, try to pet it gently. Hope this helped!

Answer 3

You may just have to wait until she is ready. My 3 parrots all kind of let me know when it is ok, they bow there heads.  Sometimes it is and sometimes not.  I have a Cockatoo that wants the top of his head scatched - most of the time, sometimes his will act like he does and then whips his head around and nips. Nice Guy. So give it time, she may never want it.  Just be happy she sits on your finger.

Answer 4

no dont touch her head they dont like that just her back and belly if u touch her head u will hurt her try feeding her with trill in ur hand she will learn to trust u eventually keep talking to her help her relax